Summer Flounder

Season in Virginia Beach

Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug.

VSWFT flounder citations in Virginia Beach and Bay-mouth areas: May 3, June 29, July 41, August 34, September 23, October 12 (2024 to 2025). March 2026: flounder in creeks around Fisherman Island, expected at the CBBT islands in April. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

CBBT islands and the HRBT pilings, creeks and ledges around Fisherman Island, the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier.

On the bottom along jetty walls, inlet edges and trough edges.

What to look for

Five large eyespots on the back half of the body tell it from southern flounder (no distinct spots) and Gulf flounder (three spots).

What to throw

Bucktail or jighead with a 4 to 5 in paddle tail1/2 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in tail. Slow hops along the bottom: lift, drop, let it touch, repeat.

Jighead with a scented soft-plastic shrimp or mullet (Gulp style)1/4 to 1/2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Slow drag and hop on the bottom with pauses; scent does the work.

Sand eel teaser (dropper ahead of a plug)Weightless; the plug behind it gives casting weight oz, Small sand eel or spearing imitation: fly, Red Gill or soft plastic. Fished with the plug; slow.

Bait

Live mud minnows (spring), Live finger mullet (as water warms). Carolina rig: 3/4 to 1 1/2 oz egg sinker, about 12 in leader, No. 2 to 1/0 hook; let the current move it.

Leader

About 12 in of leader on a Carolina rig.

Common mistakes

• Setting the hook too fast on live bait
• Reeling the bait along instead of letting the current move it

Landing

Net it; do not lift a flounder by the line.

Handling

• Sharp teeth

Use pliers to unhook.

Keep or release

Good eating. Check VMRC rules.

Recipes for summer flounder

Typical: About 15 in, 1.5 lb. Large: unknown. SC record 3 lb 8 oz (1982, as SCDNR lists it).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission before you keep a fish.

Sources

• VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2024 Citations Year To Date (every trophy citation with species, catch date, area, technique) (Official source)
• VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2025 Citations Year To Date (printed May 8 2026) (Official source)
• FishTalk Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• FishTalk Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, July 2025 (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-151: summer flounder essential fish habitat (Official source)
• SCDNR species profile: summer flounder (Official source)

All the fish of Virginia Beach